ImageFALL 2016 inglis.org The Inglis Newsletter VOL. III, NO. 3 IN THIS ISSUE Love is the best medicine Inglis Drink-Aide®— changing lives, world-wide A “Day in the Life” of Inglis Philanthropy in action— our donors Our Stories: Meet the people who help bring Inglis to lifeA bumper crop of “extremely local” produce 2 Fall 2016 Table of contents Love is the best medicine 4 The invention of Inglis Drink-Aide® 5 Tania Rhodes, CNA, on Person-Centered Care 6 Inglis resident Linda Litton, RN 7 Then and Now with new Inglis Gardens at Belmont residents 8 Barra Foundation grant facilitates independent living 9 Inglis collaborates to promote financial literacy 9 A day in the life of Inglis 10-11 Inglis welcomes new Board members 12 With thanks to our 2015-2016 donors 13-18 The Flanigan family 15 Our Holiday Wish List 19 Keen Games 40th Anniversary 20 INGLIS 2600 Belmont Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19131 inglis.org Main Number: ...............215-878-5600 TDD/TTY Number: .......215-878-5337 Toll-Free Number: ........866-2-INGLIS (866-246-4547) info@inglis.org admissions @inglis.org careers @inglis.org community@inglis.org development @inglis.org drinkaide @inglis.org housing @inglis.org volunteer@inglis.org On the Cover: Multi-medalist Mindy Orth-Stephens shares a triumphant moment with Neighborhood Life Leader Anna Shore at the 2016 Inglis Keen Games. “Farm-to-Table” dining may be all the rage at area restaurants, but it’s been happening at Inglis for years. And for residents and Recreation Therapist Jae Lee, working in Inglis’ therapeutic garden, located in our magnificent courtyard is truly a labor of love. According to Jae, this year’s organic crop includes radishes, string beans and sweet peas. “All are washed and eaten right away,” she says. Butternut and yellow squash are cooked outside, alongside the accessible, raised- bed planters, then sprinkled with salt, pepper and parmesan cheese. Basil is always used to make pesto by grinding it with pine nuts or walnuts, olive oil, garlic and parmesan cheese. “It’s a favorite that we devour on crackers,” says Jae. Gardeners also feast on fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. “Just slice and eat— no cooking required,” she says. Jae says the group starts germinating seeds in February. The seedlings are transplanted outside in May. “We give the young plants tender loving care with diligent watering, staking, fertilizing and weeding,” she says. “Sometimes, we even talk to them!” Our beautifully landscaped courtyard and therapeutic garden is made possible by volunteer gardeners and generous donors to the Ability Fund, the annual fund of the Inglis Community. Consider making a gift today, using the attached envelope or visit www.inglis.org/donate. Resident Yvette Green shows off some of the bounty from this year’s crop. Jae Lee (left) and volunteer Susan Di Bona sauté some just-picked butternut squash for a taste- test.In this issue of Image, you’ll meet just a few of these extraordinary people: • Steve and Connie Horvath, married for 42 years, who have experienced what a powerful, healing force love can be. • Inglis resident and registered nurse Linda Litton, whose multiple sclerosis sidelined her from her career in the Operating Room, but could never touch the compassion she so readily shares with others. Fall 2016 3 These stories come from Inglis residents as they persevere in their quest for “ability and independence,” our dedicated staff, and the donors and volunteers who enrich our residents’ lives in so many ways. Want to hear a good story? At Inglis we have hundreds to share. Lauren DeBruicker chats with Inglis House residents Anya Bowden and Conrad Jones at the summer Ice Cream Social. • CNA Tania Rhodes, a shining example of a person who puts her heart and soul into her work, and who brings “Person First” values to life. • Tanya Edmonds, a devoted mother who gave up the home she loved and moved into Inglis Gardens at Belmont because it was the right thing to do for her daughter, Tianna, who attends our Day Program. We hope you enjoy the stories highlighted in this issue, and invite you to share your Inglis story with us by visiting www.inglis.org/contact-us. This edition also lists the many generous people who have supported Inglis over the past fiscal year. Without their financial contributions, we would not have these kinds of wonderful stories to tell. That’s because a lot of Inglis services—our extensive roster of social, educational and recreational programs, our adapted technology services, the enhanced living opportunities of Person-Centered Care neighborhoods, and many more—are not covered by Medicare and Medicaid, and are funded exclusively by donations. Thank you for making this important work possible—because of your generosity, the Inglis Community is redefining ability and independence every day. Sincerely, Lauren DeBruicker, Esq. Chair, Inglis Board of Directors4 Steve and Connie Horvath: the love story that began in 1972 is still going strong. Love (really is) the best medicine Inglis residents Steve and Connie Horvath grew up near each other in South Philly, but didn’t meet until their late teens. Steve recalls that before then, he saw Connie walk past him on the street. “Even though I didn’t know her, I had some kind of premonition… I knew she’d be my wife.” In 1972, Steve’s friend introduced him to Connie, and Steve was instantly smitten. They dated steadily, and after a year, Connie’s sparkling personality, red hair and sweet smile proved irresistible. Steve proposed and the couple were married at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in 1974. Steve and Connie have four grown children. When Connie was pregnant with their youngest, however, she developed health problems. Although physicians knew something was seriously wrong, it was three long years before they diagnosed the cause: progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Over the next decade, Steve and the kids cared for Connie as best they could. The couples’ extended family of parents, aunts and uncles all pitched in to help. But as the disease progressed, Connie needed more assistance than they could provide, and she moved to Inglis House in 2001. Several years later, Steve began having trouble with severe spinal stenosis. Due to complications, he too became a wheelchair user and moved to Inglis in 2014. When Steve arrived at Inglis, Connie was very ill, and doctors gave her just months to live. But with Steve’s prayers and daily presence, Connie got better. Now, two years later, he laughs, “She looks better than I do! It’s good that we’re in the same place now. We can see each other every day, and the kids can visit us both…it’s like they’re coming home.”Fall 2016 5 Five minutes on …the invention of the Inglis Drink-Aide® water bottle by Linda Roseman Miron, COTA/L Imagine how it feels to have to ask for help every time you want a drink of water. Drink-Aide® is a specially designed, hands-free water bottle that allows people without upper body movement to drink independently—and it was invented right here at Inglis. Our ingenious occupational therapy assistant, Linda Roseman Miron, developed the device and tells us how it happened, changing lives ever since. Linda Roseman Miron invented the Drink-Aide® in 1990. Since then, thousands of the hands-free water bottles have been sold around the world. Could someone you know use a Drink-Aide®? Visit www.drink-aide.com or call 1-800-336-7022. When I was little, I dreamt of having magical powers so that I could do good things for people. Eventually, I realized that it wasn’t going to happen, but the desire to make a difference in people’s lives remained. After graduating college, where I majored in art, I continued my education to become an occupational therapy assistant. I’ve always been a collector of unusual gadgets and hardware…stuff that other people call “junk.” To me though, these items are valuable accessories with tons of potential. In 1990, an Inglis House resident asked me if I could attach something to his wheelchair to help him drink ginger ale on his own. I searched my stash and came up with clear tubing, a water bottle, wire, splinting material, duct tape and Velcro. Using a U-bolt and some hardware, I attached the contraption to his wheelchair. It worked, and the resident was able to drink fluids on his own! Soon, other residents wanted one. I made frequent trips to Home Depot for flexible gooseneck hosing used for appliance repairs. The devices weren’t pretty but they worked…although in time, they’d fall apart and need repair. Eventually, the bottles came to the attention of Barry Bussell, Inglis’ former Director of Vocational Rehabilitation. Barry chaired an Inglis advisory committee of business professionals who developed employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Barry did some materials research and marketing groundwork, and Inglis residents tested the prototypes and provided feedback on various design options. Their combined efforts, along with the committee’s input, helped us elevate the bottle beyond its initial “homemade” status. We also obtained financial backing from the Inglis Board of Directors for our business plan. The devices went into production, and afterward, resident workers assembled and shipped them to customers around the world. Believe it or not, Inglis was awarded the Drink-Aide® patent on Independence Day—July 4, 2000. Today, it is helping to increase “ability and independence” for people worldwide. 6 Inglis is transitioning from a traditional, institutional model of care, to a delivery system that is Person- Centered and makes resident dignity, preferences and choices a priority. We have also upgraded a hospital-like environment to one that is more like home. Here is how Tania Rhodes, CNA, has seen Person-Centered Care work in her neighborhood, formerly known as a nursing unit. WHAT’S IN A WORD? Image asks members of the Inglis Community to weigh in on a word. This issue: INDEPENDENCE “How I See It” Tania Rhodes, CNA: Person-Centered Care Tania serves resident Bruce Zimmermann in the dining solarium. Her goal is to make mealtimes festive, so she’ll often engage residents in games that make everyone feel included. Walter Proschinger, Inglis Gardens at Belmont resident “Today my attendant, Annette, arrived at 7:30 a.m. to help me get ready for my day. Even though I rely on her to help me dress and wash up, I do not consider myself dependent. In my mind, being independent means that you are free from control. Having self-determination is at the core of being independent.” How Person-Centered Care affects our residents: “Person-Centered Care gives residents the opportunity to voice their opinions and even more important, see the outcomes. For example, our residents picked the colors used in our dining solarium. When their families come, you can hear them saying how they chose the colors, the curtains and the pictures. They love it and are proud of it.” How I see Person-Centered Care and my role as a caregiver: “Person-Centered Care knocks down walls. To me, it’s not just about caring for the people who are ‘assigned’ to me…Anyone can come to me and I will be there for them. I won’t walk by a resident in need of help. I tell them, ‘You’re not a number here. You are an individual with specific needs, and we will provide for them by any means necessary.” The way I see it… “I am here to change; to adapt to our residents’ needs and to be proactive about it.” Tania is a certified nursing assistant who has cared for Inglis residents for 12 years. Visit www.inglis.org to see our Person-Centered Care video! Tania, at right, and Inglis resident Joyce Washington. Fall 2016 7 Plastic surgery, open heart surgery, pain management, total joint replacement…There isn’t much that former operating room nurse Linda Litton didn’t see during her 15-year career. As a circulating nurse, she prepped patients for surgery, and during procedures, acted as their advocate, surveying the O.R. for hazards or potential errors. Now a wheelchair user who lives with multiple sclerosis, Linda is a resident at Inglis, designated by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as a Center of Excellence in Long-Term Care. But she’s still a health care advocate, and her observation skills are as keen as ever. “The caring is still there,” she says. “I’ll let the nurses know if a resident has trouble swallowing or just doesn’t look right. I’ll remind residents to stay Michael Strawbridge, Adapted Technology Therapist Independence is exploiting someone’s strengths and saying, “Yes you can,” when the world says, “No you can’t.” Independence is online grocery shopping, online banking, online dating, text messaging and emailing. Independence is being able to enjoy life’s simple pleasures without asking for help. It is directing your care, communicating with your family and laughing with your friends. Independence is using technology and keeping up with the ever-changing world. Independence is necessary, empowering—and above all, possible. WHAT’S IN A WORD? INDEPENDENCE Linda, who has lived at Inglis House for nearly one year, presenting on the impact of Person-Centered Care at the 2016 Inglis Golf Outing. Once a nurse, always a nurse hydrated when they’re outside in hot weather. One day, I noticed that a resident had spilled milk, only to realize that she was actually having a seizure. I got the R.N. right away.” Linda, originally from Havertown, says that as a nurse, she learned many valuable life lessons that she now tries to pass on to others. “Having a serious disability is difficult to cope with, but there’s a lesson in there,” she says. “You will come out stronger. I try to encourage my fellow residents to look at the positive side.” During her nursing years, Linda says, she learned a great deal from patients too. “I used to tell them: we touch your life, but you touch ours as well. I have so many patients that I’ll never forget.” Nor will she ever forget the O.R. Linda says she often dreams that she’s still there, readying special equipment, and caring for patients. It’s a time that holds a special place in her heart and lives on today in her concern for others. 8 Fall 2016 The pleasures of a new home are undeniable—the smell of fresh paint, and spotlessly clean interiors. But for Tanya Edmonds, mother of 24-year-old Tianna, a three-year Inglis Day Program participant who lives with cerebral palsy, the move into Inglis Gardens at Belmont was bittersweet. “I owned my own home in Northeast Philadelphia, and I didn’t want to leave it,” says Tanya, who is an employee with the School District of Philadelphia. “But I had to do what was right for my daughter.” As emotional as the move was, Tanya admits that the advantages have been immense. WHAT’S IN A WORD? INDEPENDENCE Christine Lacy, Director, Inglis Housing Corporation Then and Now For this mom and daughter, accessible living adds to quality of life THEN: The family had to rely on paratransit public transportation. “Often, Tianna would be picked up at Inglis at 2:30 p.m., but not arrive home til after 5,” recalls Tanya. THEN: In a multi-story row home, Tanya had to lift Tianna several times a day: on and off the stair glide, and into a manual chair that couldn’t fit easily into small rooms and tight places. THEN: In Tanya’s row home, the space demands of the wheelchair and small, separated rooms made it difficult for mom and daughter to enjoy time together. Tanya helps Tianna get ready for her day in their new, fully accessible apartment at Inglis Gardens at Belmont. The mom and daughter were the very first to move into Inglis’ newest apartment complex. “For me personally, independence means the ability to live out my life as my authentic self; to be able to do what I want, when I want…to engage in life in meaningful, worthwhile ways. Professionally, it means empowering those we serve to engage in life, and helping to remove whatever someone sees as a restriction or barrier to that engagement. My ability to be independent is interdependent on how well I can assist someone else to obtain what I have. It may sound odd, but it feels like independence is freedom —and if we’re all not free, then none of us really are.” NOW: “I bring Tianna to the Day Program in our accessible van,” says Tanya. “The entire trip takes two minutes, door-to-door.” NOW: “Having everything on one floor is so wonderful,” says Tanya. “Tianna’s wheelchair rolls right into the oversized bathroom, and there’s plenty of space to maneuver! NOW: “We watch TV together in my bedroom and we could never do that before,” says Tanya. “Tianna can stay right in her wheelchair—it goes everywhere! Plus the open floorplan makes it easy to communicate. One night, when I was in the kitchen cooking and Tianna was in her bedroom, I started singing Mary J. Blige. Tianna could hear me and laughed. I looked up and was able to make eye contact with her. It was so touching. I cried tears of joy!” Fall 2016 9 New financial education website launched The Barra Foundation funds pilot independent living program Many of those living with complex physical disabilities prefer to live in their own homes rather than a nursing facility. This community-based option is also increasingly encouraged by state and federal governments. Inglis has received a generous grant of $96,200 from The Barra Foundation to help establish Inglis Virtual LIFE, an 18-month pilot program providing support to former Inglis House residents now living independently at Inglis Gardens at Belmont. The program aligns with The Barra Foundation’s mission to support innovative strategies that strengthen communities in the Greater Philadelphia region. Inglis Virtual LIFE is a partnership with Magee Rehabilitation Hospital’s Medical Home, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and Home Care Associates (HCA). Virtual LIFE members receive comprehensive medical care from the family practice physicians at PCOM and the Magee Medical Home offers a bundle of services, including wound care, nutrition counseling, legal advice and peer support. Attendant care services for activities of daily living—bathing, dressing, dining Inglis Virtual LIFE consumer, Ashley Murphy-Moore is greeted by aides from Home Care Associates as she moves into her new home. and light housekeeping—are provided by HCA. Technology support, the final component of Inglis Virtual LIFE, is provided by the Inglis Community Computing Program. It optimizes independence for members and helps them connect with the world around them. This pilot program runs through December 2017, at which time Inglis will consider ways to build upon it. At the Vanguard event celebrating the launch of the new website, left to right: Gavin Kerr, Inglis President and CEO; Kathy Manderino, PA Secretary of Labor and Industry, Katie Forbes, Adapted Technology Therapist at Inglis, Susan Tachau, PATF CEO, and Kevin Kelly, Inglis Chief Financial Officer. Front row, left to right: Inglis residents Noni Ade and Susan Wexler. People living with disabilities and their families now have an accessible, online resource for building a secure financial future, thanks to a collaboration among Vanguard volunteers, Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), Widener University and Inglis. The website, www.centsandsensibility.us, complements ¢ents and $ensibility, PATF’s money-management book for people with disabilities. The online resource provides interactive tools and easier access to the information in the book, which includes topics such as how to save wisely, build credit and more. PATF originally developed the ¢ ents and $ensibility text with monies from an Inglis ACE Award in 2013. Former Inglis Board member, Caryl Carpenter, a professor at Widener University, engaged students and administrators to develop the program. The new website was designed and built by Vanguard employee-volunteers. Then, developers worked with Inglis adapted technology clients and professionals to ensure optimum accessibility for users. Vanguard hosted a launch party for the online resource, which was attended by Susan Tachau, PATF CEO, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities representatives and Inglis residents and leaders. It included remarks by Kathy Manderino, PA Secretary of Labor and Industry, and Vanguard CEO Bill McNabb who praised the collaboration and the availability of expanded information for those living with disabilities.Next >